Humtoifying apparatus



June 12, 1956 A. E. ARMSTRONG 2,749,907

HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed March 19, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Adam E. Armstrong, Three Rivers, Micln, a's'signor to ArmstrongMachine Works, Three Rivers, Mich.

Application March 19, 1951, Serial No. 216,427

6 Claims. (Cl.'1-26344) This'invention relates to improvements in humidifying apparatus.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a humidifying apparatus whi'ch'may be readily incorporated in or installedin'a heating system, for example a residential system-employing aboiler.

Second, to provide a humidifyingapparatus of this character which is controlled by'a humidistat positioned in the humidified space.

Third, to provide a humidifying apparatus of this character which is operatively associated with the combustion chamber-and the water chamber of a boiler :and at the same time is safeguarded against undue pressure conditions.

'Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this character described which is quite simple in structure and easily installed.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of my invention, the parts being shown in vertical section and other parts being shown conventionally.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 represents the combustion chamber of a boiler and 2 the water jacket portion of the water chamber. 3 represents the floor of a room or space to be humidified, the floor having an opening 4 therein receiving the register 5 which constitutes the top for an evaporator. The evaporator water pan 6 is supported by walls 7. The water supply pipe 8 is controlled by a valve 9, the valve being controlled by a float 10 maintaining water at a predetermined level.

The register is provided with depending air directing bafiies 11 spaced from the wall 7 to provide an air inlet space 12, the battles 11 directing the incoming air across the surface of the water in the pan 6. The evaporator heat exchange unit 13, preferably in the form of a coil, is disposed within the pan and is connected to the heating unit or coil conventionally shown at 14 by the return pipe 15 which has a pump 16 installed therein. The water is supplied to the heat exchange unit 13 by the pipe 17 connected to the cross coupling member 18, the heating unit being connected to this cross member by the pipe 19. The injector nozzle 20 is connected to the pipe 19 in alignment with the pipe 17. The coupling member 18 is connected by the circulating connections 21 and 22 to the hot water chamber of the boiler, the connections 21 and 22 being vertically spaced.

The pump 16 is controlled by a humidistat 23 which is desirably located in the space to which humidity is supplied by the evaporator. When humidity in the space to which humidity is supplied is below a desired degree, the humidistat controlled pump will be operated to circulate the higher temperature water from the heating unit in the combustion chamber through the evaporating unit. Water circulated through the heating unit and through the delivery pipe 19 is discharged from the injector nozzle into the pipe 17 which is connected directly opposite the nozzle.

nited States Patent some gravity circulation.

highly practical embodiment thereof.

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"When the desired degree of humidity is reached in the space to behumidified, the'humidistat will cut off the circulating pump and-circulation through the heating unit will be greatly: reduced; however, as the heating unit is in the combustion chamber of the boiler, there will be As this gravity circulation is relatively slow the water emerging from the injector noz- 'zle 20 will mainly pass up through the circulating connection 22 to the'water chamber of the boiler and cooler water from the boiler "will enter through the lower circulating pipe or connection'21. This gravity circulation is 'not sufiicient to evaporate water from the evaporating pan but will be sufiicient tomaintain aflow of water through the pump and prevent steam from being created in the heating unit and undersuch conditions the heating unit merelysupplies extra heat to the boiler water.

"Since the water in the 'heating unit is always circulated or recirculated it will not give up lime 'or metal deposits to clog the coiland since it is connected directly to the boiler it cannot buildup pressure beyond boiler pressure. However, when the pump is in operation, water is supplied to the heatexchange unit at a sutlicient temperature toevaporate the water.

The'apparatus'is automatic in its operation and can be embodied in a hotwater: heating system as original installation or readily adapted or incorporated in installed systems.

1 "have illustrated and described my invention in a l have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate and which might be desired for particular boilers or installations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a boiler including a combustion chamber and a water chamber, an evaporating pan, a heat exchange unit operatively associated with said evaporating pan, a water heating unit in said combustion chamber, a return connection for said heat exchange unit to said water heating unit including a humidistat controlled circulating pump, the humidistat being subject to the humidity of air passing over said evaporating pan, a supply connection for said heat exchange unit including a cross coupling member, a discharge connection for the heating unit to said coupling member including an injector nozzle projecting into the cross member in alignment with its connection to the said heat exchange unit, and vertically spaced connections for the cross member to the boiler water chamber.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a boiler including a combustion chamber and a water chamber, an evaporating pan, a heat exchange unit operatively associated with said evaporating pan, a water heating unit in said combustion chamber, a return connection for said heat exchange unit to said water heating unit, a supply connection for said heat exchange unit including a cross coupling member, a discharge connection for the heating unit to said coupling member including an injector nozzle projecting into the cross member in alignment with its connection to the said heat exchange unit, and vertically spaced connections for the cross member to the boiler water chamber.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a boiler including a combustion chamber and a water chamber, an evaporator including a heat exchange unit, a water heating unit in said combustion chamber, a return connection for said heat exchange unit to said water heating unit including a circulating pump, a supply connection for said heat exchange unit includ ing a hollow coupling member having cruciforrnly arranged openings With said supply connection connected to one of the openings, a discharge connection from the heating unit to said coupling member including an injector nozzle projecting into an opening in the coupling member in alignment with its connection to the said heat exchange unit, and vertically spaced connections from the boiler water chamber to opposed openings in the coupling member.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a boiler including a combustion chamber and a water chamber, an evaporator including a heat exchange unit, a water heating unit in said combustion chamber, a return connection for said heat exchange unit to said water heating unit including a circulating pump, a supply connection for said heat exchange unit including a hollow coupling member having cruciformly arranged openings with said supply connection connected to one of the openings, a discharge connection from the heating unit to said coupling member, and vertically spaced connections from the boiler water chamber to opposed openings in the coupling member.

5. In combination with a hot water boiler having a combustion chamber, a heat exchange unit to be heated at higher temperature than the water in said boiler, a water heating unit positioned in said combustion chamber and having an inlet connection spaced vertically below an outlet connection, piping connecting said exchange unit to said water heating unit, a pump in the return line from said exchange unit and delivering to said inlet connection, means forming a gravity circulating passage between vertically spaced points in said boiler and located exteriorly of the boiler, the outlet passage 4 from said water heating unit being directed transversely across said circulating passage and opening thereinto.

6. In combination with a hot water boiler having a combustion chamber, a heat exchange unit to be heated at higher temperature than the water in said boiler, a water heating unit positioned in said combustion cham ber and having an inlet connection spaced vertically below an outlet connection, piping connecting said exchange unit in circuit with said Water heating unit, a pump in the piping from said exchange unit and delivering to said inlet connection, means forming a gravity circulating passage between vertically spaced points in said boiler, the outlet passage from said water heating unit being directed transversely across said circulating passage and opening thereinto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,379,581 Smith May 24, 1921 1,515,490 Jordan Nov. 11, 1924 1,824,574 Schunemann Sept. 22, 1931 1,926,462 Stark Sept. 12, 1933 1,931,719 Comstock Oct. 24, 1933 1,989,228 Criqui et al Jan. 29, 1935 2,002,294 McMath May 21, 1935 2,054,039 Persons Sept. 8, 1936 2,290,347 Moore et al. July 21, 1942 2,297,768 Hutchings Oct. 6, 1942 2,341,365 Delmar Feb. 8, 1944 2,365,829 Mears Dec. 26, 1944 2,536,257 Bottum Jan. 2, 1951 2,541,337 Cherem Feb. 13, 1951 2,594,507 Sigerist Apr. 29, 1952 

